Hand-propelled toy vehicle

ABSTRACT

A toy vehicle comprising a frame including a rigid seat and back for an occupant and supported for movement along the ground by wheels. A large ring carried on the frame surrounds the occupant and is adapted to be grasped and manually rotated by him. The ring is drivingly interconnected with at least one of the vehicle wheels so that ring rotation propels the vehicle. Means is also provided to facilitate vehicle steering.

D United States Patent 1111 3,843,157

Wyman Oct. 22, 1974 HAND-PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE 1,829,266 10/1931 Drew et al. 380/248 5 i 1 Dennis m 4 Cresfline 313211534 311332 3212?: 2381523 Owmgs M1115, 21117 2,399,874 5/1946 Livingston 280/206 [22] Filed: Jan. 24, 1973 1 pp No 326 485 Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. Betts 57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 280/249, 280/282 1 A toy vehicle compnsmg a frame including a rigid seat [51] Int. Cl. B62r 9/02 b d [58] Field 61' Search 280/250, 249, 242 R, 206, and P""" -Y ment along the ground by wheels. A large rmg carried 280/207, 205, 248, 267

on the frame surrounds the occupant and is adapted to [56] References Cited be grasped and manually rotated by him. The ring is drivingly interconnected with at least one of the vehi- UNITED STATES PATENTS cle wheels so that ring rotation propels the vehicle.

Means is also provided to facilitate vehicle steering. os 914,212 3/[909 Whiting 280/250 3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures I-IAN'D-PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a novel occupant carrying toy vehicle propelled by the occupant thereof. The vehicle includes a relatively large ring surrounding the occupant and rotatably supported on the vehicle frame. The ring drivingly engages one or more ground engaging wheels through, for example, a gear train, and is conveniently positioned to be grasped and rotated by the occupant to propel the vehicle. The large diameter ring provides a significant mechanical advantage in propelling and in braking the vehicle. In addition, means may be provided to steer the vehicle.

In addition, this novel vehicle lends itself to attractive styling, and is inherently safe, while being challenging and amusing to the user. Furthermore, the simplistic construction of this invention provides all the above in a relatively low cost unit. v

Other objects andadvantages of this invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the description to follow-taken in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating a toy vehicle embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan viewof FIG. 1;

FIG. 4'is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of FIG. 2 taken along the line 44 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of FIG. 4 taken along the line 5--S thereof;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line 66 thereof;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line 7-7 thereof;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 5 taken along the line 8-8 thereof; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of FIG. 6 taken along the line 9-9 thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now more specifically to the drawings, a toy vehicle embodying the present invention is shown generally at 11 in FIGS. 1-3, and is seen to include an integrally molded frame 16 made up of spaced, side walls I2, 14 forming an interconnected contoured seat 13 and back 15 having comfort and protective padding l7, l9 suitably secured thereto. The frame 16 is supported for movement over the ground by a pair of relatively large rear wheels 21, 23 carried on an axle 25 journaled by bearings 27 in side walls l2, 14. A relatively small front wheel 29 is rotatably supported on an axle 33 spanning a saddle 31. As shown, in FIGS. 6 and 9, one end of the axle 33 extends into an opening 34 in the saddle 31 while the other axle end extends upwardly along a recess 36 and through the saddle top and a bridge 37 joining the frame side walls 12, 14. Suitable fastener means 35 pivotally secures this axle end and saddle 31 in place on the frame bridge 37.

The saddle 31 has laterally projecting arms 39, 41 upon which an occupant seated on the frame 16 of the device places his feet. Thus, the occupant controllably steers the vehicle 11 using his feet to turn the saddle 31. The arms 39, 41 extend through slots 40, 42 in the frame side walls 12, 14, these slots being dimensioned 3 to limit pivotal or turning movement of the saddle 31 to substantially that shown in FIG. 3.

Novel means is provided for occupant propulsion of the vehicle 11. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, a relatively large ring 43 circumscribes the vehicle seat 13 and back 15 and is rotatably supported upon the vehicle frame 16 by bushings 45, 47 and by rollers 49, 51 (see also FIG. 4). The hoop 43 is suitably formed from, for example, a hollow plastic extrusion joined together at its ends, and-is provided with apertures 53 along its inner periphery (see FIGS. 4 and 5). A sprocket wheel 55 fixed to a shaft 57 has projecting teeth 59 engaging in the apertures 53 and is driven by the'ring 43. A spur gear 61, also fixed to shaft 57, drivingly engages an in- .termediate spur'gear 63, supported on a shaft 64. Gear '63, in turn, drives another gear 65 fixed to axle 25. At

least one of the rear wheels, for example, wheel 23, is also fixed to axle 25. Thus, when the ring 43 is turned in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 1, the wheel 23 also turns clockwise and propels the vehicle 11 forwardly or toward the right as seen in the figure.

It will be appreciated that the vehicle occupant sits within the ring 43 and that this ring is sized and disposed relative to the seat 13 and back 15 of the vehicle 11 so that, while seated, the occupant, even a child, can readily reach above his head and grasp the exposed portion of the ring 43. Thus, this occupant grasps the upper forward part of the ring 43 and pulls it forwardly and causes the vehicle 11 to move forwardly. Furthermore, the'relatively large diameter of the ring 43 affords a significant mechanical advantage in propelling the vehicle 11 thereby making its use stimulating and fun, and, in addition, contributes to the safety to the occupant during use. Finally, the pivotal saddle 31, with its foot receiving arms 39, 41, allows the user to steer the vehicle 11 during use, further adding to his enjoyment and pleasure.

The vehicle 11 of this invention lends itself to inexpensive manufacturing and is, therefore, relatively low in cost. Thus, for example, the seat and back frame can be constructed of one piece, molded plastic, and can incorporate design advantages such as contoured fenders 72, 74 for wheels 21, 23. Also, the gears 61, 63, through their shafts 57, 64, together with the ring supporting rollers 49, 51, through their mounting shafts 67, 69, respectively, can all be assembled to a cradle frame 71 suitably fixed, as by rivets 73, to frame side wall 12.

By the foregoing, there has been disclosed a novel toy vehicle calculated to fulfill the inventive objects set forth herein, and while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, various additions, substitutions, modifications, and omissions may be made thereto without departing from the aspect of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy vehicle comprising a rigid frame including a seat and back, wheels supporting said frame for movement over the ground, means for driving at least one of said wheels including a relatively large ring rotatably supported longitudinally of said frame and having an exposed portion above and forwardly of said occupant, said ring including internal peripheral apertures engaging a sprocket wheel drivingly engaging said at least one wheel whereby said occupant can grasp and pull forwardly and downwardly on said ring to propel said vehicle.

2. A toy vehicle comprising a frame including a seat and a back, wheels supporting said frame for movement over the ground, a ring rotatably supported upon said frame and extending longitudinally of said vehicle,

said ring being spaced from the ground and encompassing said seat and back and an occupant positioned thereon, said ring being adapted to be manually grasped and rotated substantially about its axis by said user, said ring being drivingly connected to at least one of said wheels, whereby to facilitate propellance of said vehicle.

3. A toy vehicle comprising a frame including a seat and a back, wheels supporting said frame for movement over the ground, said wheels including at least axis and controlled by the feet of said occupant. 

1. A toy vehicle comprising a rigid frame including a seat and back, wheels supporting said frame for movement over the ground, means for driving at least one of said wheels including a relatively large ring rotatably supported longitudinally of said frame and having an exposed portion above and forwardly of said occupant, said ring including internal peripheral apertures engaging a sprocket wheel drivingly engaging said at least one wheel whereby said occupant can grasp and pull forwardly and downwardly on said ring to propel said vehicle.
 2. A toy vehicle comprising a frame including a seat and a back, wheels supporting said frame for movement over the ground, a ring rotatably supported upon said frame and extending longitudinally of said vehicle, said ring being spaced from the ground and encompassing said seat and back and an occupant positioned thereon, said ring being adapted to be manually grasped and rotated substantially About its axis by said user, said ring being drivingly connected to at least one of said wheels, whereby to facilitate propellance of said vehicle.
 3. A toy vehicle comprising a frame including a seat and a back, wheels supporting said frame for movement over the ground, said wheels including at least one propellant wheel and steering wheel means, a ring rotatably supported upon said frame and extending longitudinally of said vehicle, said ring being spaced from the ground and encompassing said seat and back and an occupant positioned thereon, said ring being adapted to be manually grasped and rotated substantially about its axis by said user, said ring being drivingly connected to said at least one propellant wheel, whereby to facilitate propellance of said vehicle, said steering wheel means including an axle turnably supported upon said frame for movement about a vertical axis and controlled by the feet of said occupant. 